IKA, PKRA and KSP agree on revised unified wave point system

IKA announced an update to the kite wave world championship and world ranking system, which results in combining PKRA and KSP into one united world ranking while maintaining the directive to determine the world champion from the best wave kiters in the worlds most desirable wave kite locations. This system has been agreed between IKA, PKRA and KSP after three months of negotiations and satisfies the needs of all parties.

The amended world championship system has two parts: part one is a combined point system in which points are awarded to each event depending on conditions, contest duration, judging and prize money, resulting in the KSP events having a higher number of points than the PKRA events, but keeping the point difference minimal to give PKRA riders the possibility to play a major role in the ongoing world ranking. The point system is available on the IKA website for review.

The second part of the system as agreed between PKRA and KSP is the implementation of a clause that ensures that the world championship title is given away in the events with the most desirable conditions; these events are held through the KSP tour. The clause reads as follows:

“The 2011 World Champion will be determined via the 3 events run by the KSP only. Should any of the KSP events fall under a Force Majeure, meaning any event or circumstance out of the association’s control; such as natural catastrophe, war, strike, riot, crime, act of God or any other reason that prevents the KSP from holding an event, the highest ranked PKRA event(s) will be used to bring the number of events to three.”

Having already completed their first two wave events in Morocco and Lanzarote this year, the PKRA has 3 more wave events on their schedule for this season: Tenerife, Australia and South Africa. All PKRA events are open for all riders to join and open up the possibility for talented riders to win points for the world ranking and qualify for the KSP events through good competition results.

KSP events have limited entry, and access is regulated as follows (remaining unchanged from our February announcement): Male riders ranked top 8 and female riders ranked top 4 in the 2010 IKA Wave World Ranking and the 2011 PKRA wave ranking (with a deadline on August 15th – one month ahead of the first KSP event) will automatically be offered entry for the 2011 KSP Tour. The remaining slots (with a minimum of 6 male and 3 female riders) will be filled with wildcards; any interested rider may apply for tour wildcards through the IKA office ( info@internationalkiteboarding.org). Two male and one female wildcard are reserved for local competitors.

Details on the wildcard application process can be found on the IKA website. Any interested rider is encouraged to make his application as soon as possible, but until June 1st latest; a jury will then decide on all applications and inform the affected riders.

There is a great chance that more than 6/3 wildcards will be available, as riders eligible already through the 2010 ranking and listed on the 2011 ranking are not counted twice, which allows for additional wildcards to be granted.

For more information on the IKA, the world ranking system and wildcard applications, please visit www.internationalkiteboarding.org

Additional information on both tours can be found at www.prokitetour.com and www.kspworldtour.com.